A Twisted Fate

Chapter Seventeen

I hardly managed to pull it together for lunch. Even then it was hard as I struggled to eat without looking up, meeting Maxon's eyes, and tugging my ears so hard I'd tear out the delicate earrings Queen Amberly had given me.

"Miss," a voice said from behind me. I looked up and saw Celeste standing there, a gentle hand reaching for my should as her voice started to crack... possibly with grief for me. Tell me something interesting, I silently begged closing my eyes for a second.

"What?" I replied, trying to sound cheerful but it came out sounding like a snarky comment. Celeste seemed to know that and she draped a silky cloak around my back as she guided me away from the table, and just then I felt the heat of everyone's gaze on me. 

"America you look gorgeous!" She exclaimed joyously, "I know you and Maxon are... confused but this is a family wedding tradition to give the bride object that reminds her of comfort. Honestly, for me, I just was something luxurious but I thought of you."

As I tucked my hair behind my ears I smiled, right as Celeste slipped a smooth-surfaced box into my hand. Taking off the lid to reveal a showstopping necklace my face was expressionless. "This must've cost a fortune!" I exclaimed, tucking it into the pocket my jeans offered and running to hug Celeste. 

"Anything for my future Queen," she joked, bowing, then tilting herself upwards and repositioning her hair, "honestly I've never had too many friends before and I'm glad one of my first ones is you."

"Same here," I said, finally feeling comfortable. As I walked down the hallways I realized that even if Kriss was Queen I'd still have friends.

But then I heard a shriek, a loud earsplitting one. Racing back I saw a limp body with skin toned just like Celeste's and the same honey-brown hair. "No-," I whispered, seeing the bullet hole in her neck.

Falling on my knees I nearly wailed but a gloved hand wrapped itself around my mouth before I had a chance. "Mer!" A voice whisper-shouted, I nervously ran towards the calls with the guard who'd stopped my cries.

"Aspen!" I said, hugging my friend, "what's happened to Celeste? I need to tell Maxon, and the King and Queen!"

Aspen shook his head, "they already know. Southerners are invading in the guard's uniforms. We'd been searching for you two when we found Celeste, sent specifically by Maxon as he carried poor, unconscious into a safe room." 

"Wha-?" I started to ask as Aspen dragged me off to another protected area, sending the other officer off to check the kitchens for survivors since he'd been informed they were managing to hold off the rebels.

"I'm going to scout the hospital wing alright Mer?" Aspen whispered, "I know you might be nervous... not like you'd ever admit it but I am. I want to make sure my Lucy is okay, she's been complaining about a headache for ages and I need to check if she's safe."

I nodded hesitantly, "make sure you don't die," I whispered into Aspen's ear, gripping him tightly, before finally letting go.